Artemis Vision RaPTr User manual

Artemis Vision RaPTr (Rapid Pallet Tracker) | System Set-Up Guide
1
System Set-Up Guide
Gen 2c

Artemis Vision RaPTr (Rapid Pallet Tracker) | System Set-Up Guide
Artemis Vision reserves the right to make changes to the information in this document. It is
the customer’s responsibility to refer to the version of the manual that corresponds to the
appropriate version of the customer’s system. Please contact Artemis Vision for questions
about correct versions of manuals and to determine whether any changes have been made.
Information in this document does not represent a commitment on the part of Artemis Vision.
©Artemis Vision. All Rights Reserved.
This document describes the overall system set up for RaPTr (Rapid Pallet Tracker).
Refer to Interfaces and Architectures Guide for detailed software conguration.
Version: Gen 2c
Revision Release Date: April 29, 2021

Artemis Vision RaPTr (Rapid Pallet Tracker) | System Set-Up Guide
CONTENTS
Configuration Types..........................................................................................................1
Example Set-Up Layouts...............................................................................................2
Scan Terminology.............................................................................................................5
Mounting Information .....................................................................................................5
Requirements and Recommendations......................................................................6
Handling Data....................................................................................................................7
Set-Up Procedure............................................................................................................7

Artemis Vision RaPTr (Rapid Pallet Tracker) | System Set-Up Guide
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CONFIGURATION TYPES
First, determine the type of conguration your RaPTr system will use. Everything is included
to set up each unit except as noted below.
We support two conguration types: Drive Thru or Drive By (see Example Set-Up
Layouts). When set up and congured correctly, both set-ups allow in-motion scanning of
properly congured and placed barcodes.
Drive Thru is a “license plate reader” style approach, with the cameras facing the forklift
driver and pallet. This set-up allows the most exibility in distance between cameras and
pallets, as well as barcode/label placement. The “Default” and “Distant” set-up diagrams in
Example Set-Up Layouts illustrate this conguration.
Drive By is set up so the camera is perpendicular to the side of the pallet. Some facilities
do not have the required room for Drive Thru conguration. Drive By conguration allows
for the cameras to be much closer to the side of the pallet, but requires more specic
placement of the barcodes/labels, and can sometimes require more light. The “Drive By”
set-up diagram illustrates this conguration.
Additionally, RaPTr can be congured to send and store data in three ways:
1. Keyboard Mode - This mode sends the data as if the system were a typical
handheld barcode reader.
2. UDP/ABP - This mode allows the customer to set-up a client/server using standard
UDP. This mode allows for simple messaging and validation to occur on the
customer side using the customer’s existing ERP or WMS software.
3. Text File/Spreadsheet – See Set-Up Procedure.
Refer to the RaPTr Interface and Architecture Guide for detailed software installation
and conguration.

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EXAMPLE SET-UP LAYOUTS
Default Set-Up
Default Set-up
Active Scan Area
~2.5m to ~3.5m
from door
Door
Unit
Recommended
Drive Path
Readable
Scan Area

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EXAMPLE SET-UP LAYOUTS
Distant Set-Up
Alternate Set-up 1
Active Scan Area
~3.5m to ~4.5m
from door
Door
Unit
Recommended
Drive Path
Readable
Scan Area

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EXAMPLE SET-UP LAYOUTS
Drive By Set-Up
Alternate Set-up 2
Drive By Mode
•Barcodes on
side of pallet
Door
Unit
Recommended
Drive Path
Readable
Scan
Area
Active Scan Area
~.5m to ~1m

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SCAN TERMINOLOGY
Scan Area Refers to the Field of View (FOV) of each camera. This is the rectangular
area that each camera “sees” to nd the barcodes. The cameras are set up
to decode barcodes in a 2m wide x 1.5m tall FOV. At default zoom this will
be your FOV at 3m (10ft) away. It should roughly cover a person from toe
to shoulder in height and, with their arms outstretched, cover from ngertip
to ngertip in width. As the person moves away from the camera at a given
zoom level, the person will appear smaller. At the desired scan distance,
adjust the zoom (focal length of the lens) so the person lls the image
(shoulder to toe, ngertip to ngertip).
If you would like to scan from further than 3m (10ft) away, back up to the
desired scan location and zoom in (longer focal length) until the person lls
the frame. If you would like to scan from less than 3m (10ft) away, move
closer to the desired scan location and zoom out until you see the person
from shoulder to toe and ngertip to ngertip with arms outstretched.
Scan Plane Refers to the optimal focus area, or Focal Plane of each lens. Each camera has
a ‘zone’ that extends closer and further from the central Scan Plane where
the barcodes will be in crisp focus. With the default lens settings, the Set-Up
Target should look in sharp focus from about 2.4m (8ft) to 3.7m (12ft) away.
Scan Angle Depending on the mounted height of each camera enclosure and the
distance from the Scan Plane, the angle of the camera can be slightly
dierent. Optimal placement would reduce this angle to horizontal if
possible. Steeper angles can be problematic, but most typical congurations
can handle a fair amount of ‘skew’ from camera angle. Shorter distances
using the Drive Thru conguration are most prone to this, but with proper
lens adjustment most angles and distances are workable. See Example Set-
Up Layouts.
MOUNTING INFORMATION
Each standalone RaPTr system comes with all necessary mounting hardware to connect
it to a customer-supplied section of P1000 Unistrut in either conguration. The unit
accepts 100-260VAC 50/60HZ. Default unit ships with a type B (North American) plug;
other plugs available as needed. An easy-to-follow Assembly Guide is included with
each system, and typically takes less than one hour to mount each system physically (not
including running AC power and mounting the Unistrut section).

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REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Barcode Requirements:
RaPTr is most eective with 2D barcodes (Data Matrix) with a minimum module size of
4mm. See below for a 14 x 14 datamatrix at the recommended module size of 4mm.
Other congurations are possible; contact Artemis Vision for details.
Lighting Recommendations:
The Artemis Vision system can automatically adjust the camera exposure in software,
but generally speaking, the more light the better. Low-light situations can aect scan
accuracy, and have an impact on the maximum speed the driver can be moving during
scanning. Artemis Vision recommends at least 300 Lux at the scanning face of the pallet.
This is about the equivalent of a well-lit oce or retail environment. An inexpensive
light meter can help you determine if you need to add more light, but most warehouse
operations have adequate lighting due to standard safety requirements.
Additional Physical Location Recommendations:
For maximum eciency and scanning success, Artemis Vision recommends placing
“guides” with tape or paint lines to demarcate the preferred drive path for forklift
operators as they approach the door. A simple line on the left and right to mark the Scan
Area, and two lines to designate the Scan Zone min and max area should suce. Once
operators have become accustomed to these locations, it will become routine for them
to approach and slow down moderately for scanning to occur.

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SET-UP PROCEDURE
Once the enclosures/cameras/CPU have been mounted, there is a short procedure
required to set up each camera:
1. Prepare the area - A representative pallet should be placed in the typical location
where you want to capture the barcodes.
2. Launch the RaPTr software on the system. Detailed software setup is available in
the RaPTr Interface and Architecture Guide.
3. Position the upper physical camera canister so that the image of the pallet is
visible on screen. Ensure that a typical barcode is on the front surface of the pallet
in the middle portion of the FOV.
4. Click Stop. Click the Artemis Vision logo or press F5 to enter conguration mode.
Click Congure:
HANDLING DATA
By default, all system read data is stored in a local CSV le and, optionally, on a remote
server congured using the ABP Communications protocol (Appendix A to RaPTr
Interface and Architecture Guide. Additionally, the system can be congured to load
door-specic data (i.e. barcodes/items that are scheduled for loading at a particular door
at a particular time). With this conguration, pallets can be checked against a list and
indicate if a mismatch has occurred, leading to more accurate shipments. Please refer to
the Interfaces and Architectures Guide or contact Artemis Vision for more information on
this conguration.

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5. Choose camera by serial number. Then click Start:
6. Adjust the FOV using the zoom adjustment on the lens (ring furthest from body of
camera) until the area you can see covers enough physical space to accommodate
the desired drive path of the forklift and the width of a typical pallet. See image:

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7. Adjust the Aperture on the lens (ring closest to camera). This allows more or less
light into the sensor. You may have to physically add more light to your selected
location.
8. Fine-tune the Focus (middle adjustment ring) so the image is crisp. When
complete, tighten all thumb screws.
9. View Module Width and Height to verify readability from the desired distance
(bar will display green; no color and values of 0 indicate nothing can be read).
If necessary, zoom in with the camera to achieve mininum pixels needed. Keep
in mind this will also aect the FOV. Verify appropriate Contrast, and if needed
adjust lighting. See below:
10. It may be necessary to go back and forth between steps 6 and 9 to achieve a
steady reading of the barcode in the image. This is indicated by a yellow box
around the image, and the actual decoded barcode information under the image.
Adjust until the yellow indicator and barcode info are steady and do not icker.
See images:
Focus adjustment neededNo adjustments needed

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11. View and adjust additional camera parameters by clicking the Parameters tab. See
below:
Note: These parameters are system settings so there is no need to customize by camera.
Out of focusIn focus

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Parameters Descriptions:
Minimum Module Count Vertical - Minimum number of modules in each column of
the data matrix.
Maximum Module Count Vertical - Maximum number of modules in each column of
the data matrix.
Minimum Module Count Horizontal – Minimum number of modules in each row
of the data matrix.
Maximum Module Count Horizontal – Maximum number of modules in each row
of the data matrix.
Barcode Results Per Image – Quantity of barcodes expected to be detected in each
image.
Scanner Location ID – Unique identier for dock door or barcode reader location.
Server IP and Port – Reference “Scanner Interfaces and Architecture” document.
 BackOTruckTime, Photo Eye Debounce Time, and Barcode Scan and Pallet
Detection Delay – Reference I/O Detection Appendix, if applicable.
Server Response Dwell Duration – This is the time the server’s response message
stays on screen at the Scanner Unit. Default is 5 seconds.
Block Barcode Window – Determines the amount of time the system will wait
before reading the same barcode again. Default is 30 seconds. If this is set to be too
short a duration, the system may read the same barcode more than once, especially
if the fork truck operator allows pallets to sit in front of the camera. For testing
purposes this can be set to lower values, but 30 seconds is normally long enough for
the barcode to be read, and the pallet to be loaded on the truck before being ready
to scan another barcode.
Low Diskspace Threshold – Determines the amount of remaining space can be on
the system hard drive before the system begins to delete image les. The system
will remove the oldest les rst once this threshold has been surpassed.
Delete Images Timespan – Automatically deletes image les after this amount of
time has passed.
Image Saving Resize Factor – Allows one to set the compression applied to saved
images. Default setting is 8 (8X smaller than raw images from camera).
Keyboard Wedge IP – Applicable if using the Keyboard Wedge Option (see
Keyboard Wedge Addendum, if this Option was purchased).
Barcode RegEx Filter- This eld allows one to insert a Regular Expression as a
means to lter barcodes to be read. For instance one could have a leading value (i.e.
001-) at the start of all pallet ID barcodes to ensure that only those barcodes are
read by the system.

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eld is left blank or the system cannot nd this le, the system will play the default
audible alarm sound.
Barcode is 2D – Check for 2D data matrix, uncheck for 1D.
Normalize Display Image – Check mark may enable an optimized image to be
displayed to forklift driver. NOTE: checking this box will only impact the image on
the main screen that the operator sees, and will not impact image used to read and
decode barcode as set up in steps 1-9.
Save Images Locally – Check to save all images in C:Artemis\images
Enable Heartbeat – For server, reference “Scanner Interfaces and Architecture”
document.
Enable AutoStart – Check to automatically start barcode reading whenever the
software starts up.
Upload Images to Server - Check to send images to the server. This is required to
be able to view the images for any given barcode using the Web Reporting Tool (see
Interfaces and Architectures Document).
Use Keyboard Mode- Used in conjunction with Keyboard Wedge functionality (see
Interfaces and Architectures Document)
Add Keyboard Carriage Return - Inserts a carriage return at the end of the string
that is sent in Keyboard Mode and is used in conjunction with Keyboard Wedge
functionality (see Interfaces and Architectures Document).
Audible Alarm – Check to enable the audible alarm. This alarm sounds when an
incorrect pallet has been detected for the current order.
12. Follow the same procedure for
additional cameras, with the camera
aimed at the barcode positioned on
the bottom pallet (in a stack of 2).
13. When cameras are properly
congured, system will indicate
successful decoding of barcodes with
a green box highlighting where the
barcode image was found.
See image at right:

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Example Display Areas:
14. CongurableDisplayAreas – One can
now adjust the amount of space allotted to
display color bars and operator feedback
messages. This is especially useful in
scenarios where pallets are stacked, to
ensure that messages are large enough to
be readable when many pallets are read at
once.
In the conguration screen there are 2
dotted black lines. The top line can be
pulled up or down to shrink or expand the
area allotted to the Order Number and
Order Tracking information. The bottom
dotted line can similarly be adjusted to
enlarge or shrink the area allotted to the
individual barcode read response messages
from the server.

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15. For serverless operation, set-up is complete. Barcode reads and images are time- and
date-stamped and written to the le system at C:\Artemis\Logs (see Handling Data).
16. For operation with a Server and Server-based conguration options, please refer to the
RaPTr Interfaces and Architectures document.
Additional Example Display Area:

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